Students selected from both the Jamestown and Olean campuses will assist the Sustainability Coordinator in identifying and quantifying opportunities for electrical energy reduction.

These activities will some or all of the following:

Conducting an inventory of appliances campus-wide such as; vending machines; printers, copiers, coolers, and electrical devices, then recording both the total number and the totals by type and model.

Using a power meter to determine energy consumption, measuring energy consumed by each model over a fixed period then calculate annual kWh consumption and energy costs.

Conducting energy use measurements before and after installation of the VendMiser unit, calculating annual energy savings for each model, then creating a proposal demonstrating total cost and potential cost savings and recommendations for extending VendMiser control installation to all appropriate vending units.

In conjunction with the IT department, create a proposal for the use of computer software to control shutdown and power-up of computers when not in use.

Accompany the Sustainability Coordinator on field trips to remote campuses to complete vending machine inventory.

To complete the internship students will be required to create a report summarizing their efforts listing tangible actions and the resulting savings from those actions in both dollars and energy. They will also be required to describe their learning experiences while working on the inventory and energy reduction activities.

Learning objectives:

Students will understand the local links to the global issue of greenhouse gas emissions by analyzing the campus links to greenhouse gas emissions

Students will gain a better understanding of energy use and conservation by campus appliances

Students will collect and analyze data, and report findings to the campus community, including campus decision-makers

Training:

Initial training on the basics of energy use and calculation

Training on the use of various power meters

Training on the installation and use of vending control units to reduce energy use

Additional training will be conducted individually and as necessary

Context for Internship:
This internship utilizes the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment framework.
Teaching Materials:

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate (www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org)

The Sustainability Handbook: The Complete Management Guide to Achieving Social, Economic, and Environmental Responsibility by William Blackburn